What's growing in my garden? August 2013

In the first garden bed, we have harvested all the radishes (used up in salads and cooked - steamed or fried in butter - with other veges) and started harvesting the thinning carrots, swedes and turnips. I've also planted shallots (also known as spring onions).

leeks, carrots and turnips

shallots

In garden bed 2, I still just have a mass of self-seeded brassicas and lettuce, nasturtium, and the chilli plants are still going (and I discovered that the chickens will eat the chillies, because we have run out of ideas for using them!). I'm harvesting multiple small broccoli heads, rather than waiting for big ones.

In garden bed 3 I pulled out all the wheat that had grown out of the chicken litter, and planted celery, then the chickens got into the garden and dug up the celery (they like to dig where I have been digging), but they don't like celery, so I was able to rescue and replant most of it. The (perennial) kale is doing so much better now we've had some cold weather and bugs have died off. The pak choi has gone to flower, which is nice because there's not much else in flower at the moment.

I tidied up the forth bed too and pulled out all the basil and cherry tomatoes, leaving some space to spread out some of my herb pots and lemon and lime trees, so they can get some sun through winter. There's also broad beans and peas (just the odd one that I eat in the garden, none have made it to the kitchen yet), and the surviving capsicum bush.

Around the edges, the tromboncino and beans have died off, so I replanted self-seeded calendula seedlings to take their place (last year I harvested lots of calendula petals). I also cut open some of the big tromboncinos and harvested some seeds for next season. I also planted some potatoes that had sprouted in the cupboard, its way too early for them, maybe they will make it, maybe they won't.... I harvested some sweet potato because the chickens had started to dig them up. I hope I left some in the ground to sprout when it warms up.

Bizarrely, it strawberry season (again!). I only have two large pots of strawberries, so I just get the occasional tiny tasty treat. As soon as I have space, I will have a massive strawberry patch!

a sample harvest basket

This month I'm going to start planning for spring! I know its early, but last year I didn't get organised until November and by then it was too hot and dry to get things started, so this year I will be making use of my mini hot house to get tomatoes, corn and curcubits started early. We gave the cattle a roundbale of hay, which they proceeded to destroy and sleep in (even in a roundbale holder), so that will be some nice mulch to spread around the garden too.

How is your garden growing? What are you harvesting?

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Liz do you know what those red peppers are called? A neighbour gave some to me and doesn't know their name. Also do you eat nasturtiums? Looks like you have tidying up your garden since last time, thinning it down and getting ready for spring is always fun. I have my top garden to tend today, plenty of ripping out the old and get the new starting.

I don't know about the chillies, they came from a friend, I don't like too much hot food, I only use a sprinkle of chilli flakes, but we get so many I have to give them away and feed them to the chooks! And yes we eat nasturtium leaves nearly every day, chopped up with parsley, stirred into mash potato, or gravy or salad, depending what's for dinner. I am trying to grow and eat more herbs lately.

Hi Liz, the garden looks great! Have you tried eating the trombocinis when they are orange? I only found out that they are called winter, summer squash and when large and orange can be used as you would pumpkins.

Actually I haven't tried it, but I was cutting up an orange trombo to harvest the seeds and Cheryl the dog was very interested, so I fed her some, she eats melon and pumpkin too, so I guess she thought this was similar. Next time I cut one up in the kitchen instead of on the ground outside, I will try some. They seem to last well when they get to this stage too.

I think that swedes are what we call rutabaga, I planted mine here where it is mid summer and they are getting their second leaves. I plan on planting turnips this week and soon the rest of the winter vegetables. It sounds like you aren't getting real cold where you are. Looking good.

My garden is doing well. We have had more rain than usual and the frosts have been very mild. Even the weather this winter has not been cold...which is a good thing. I managed to keep my capsicums growing though Winter this season. Usually they die off, but I had them covered with an old mesh curtain to protect from the elements. I guess it worked well :)

I am in the process of planning what to plant for Spring, not going to be late this year. I don't think I will attempt growing in January or February if it is going to be sweltering...

Looking good Liz! Had a look at hte Garden Share Collective too...great idea.

Some time ago I was researching what foods we could give to our hens and came across some information about peppers. Apparently chickens don't have capsicum receptors so they don't feel the heat (pain) of eating chillis!

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Farmer Liz

Liz lives on eight acres in south east Queensland, Australia, with her husband Peter and dogs Taz and Gus. They have a passion for small-scale organic farming and producing and eating real food. They keep chickens, beef steers, two jersey cows and a big vegetable garden. Liz writes a blog about their farm to both inspire and help others who are interested in self-sufficiency, sustainability and permaculture.

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